Russell Wilson Hopes to Take Steelers Back to Promised Land
PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson has only one goal as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback, and that’s to lead the Steelers back to the Super Bowl.
“I came here to be a Pittsburgh Steeler to help us win another Super Bowl. That’s the bottom line,” Wilson said on Wednesday after Mike Tomlin named him the starting quarterback. “I believe in this football team. We believe in each other and we gotta do the work.”
Wilson received a lot of flak in Denver for not being a good teammate and leader. There were reports that he was superficial and fake. Nothing of such has been displayed in Pittsburgh.
“I feel like that every day you try to prove yourself,” Wilson said. “There was adversity and you overcome that adversity and move on. I’m not focused on anything old or anything ahead. I’m just focused on right now.”
Even though he was in pole position, Wilson felt like it was a quarterback competition with Justin Fields from the start.
“Yeah, every day you try and be your best,” Wilson said. “I think we’re always competing to be our best as players. I think that’s the one thing I’ve learned ever since my rookie year.”
Wilson is onboard for a special package for Fields. He’ll also do everything he can to help Fields grow as a quarterback.
“I think that, obviously, Justin’s ability to find the end zone, over the years, I’ve been able to score a lot of touchdowns, him as well. Listen, whatever it takes to find another touchdown in there,” Wilson said when asked if he’ll encourage a Fields package.
“Somebody once asked me, ‘What’s the job of a quarterback?’ It’s to help our football team win and help everyone else get better every day. I think that’s just been my focus.”
Wilson won the job despite missing most of the first two weeks of training camp and the first preseason game with a calf injury suffered during the team’s camp-opening run test. Tomlin said Wilson showed enough during his time to win the job.
“Obviously, Russ’ injury created some challenges in that process in terms of exposure to him, but in the same token, it created more opportunities and avenues to get to know Justin and for Justin to get to show what he’s capable of,” Tomlin said.
The Steelers franchise has not lived up to the standard in recent years, as they’re currently on a seven-year playoff win drought. The Steelers hope Russell Wilson can lead the organization back to the winning ways they’re accustomed to.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
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